Reindeer Facts...
Reindeer are related to Caribou, but are slightly smaller. They have been a farmed animal in Scandinavia and Siberia for several centuries, and in Alaska since around 1900.
Most reindeer in the USA are descendants of reindeer that were imported into Alaska during the gold rush at the end of the 1800’s.
Today reindeer are raised on farms throughout the U.S., from Florida to New York to Alaska. Our reindeer came from reindeer farms in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and South Dakota.
Both male and female reindeer grow antlers. They grow a new set every year. Ours will drop their antlers in March and immediately start growing a new set. Growing antlers are soft and covered in short hairs, called velvet. In September the antlers turn hard and the reindeer rub the velvet off.
The reindeer have a thick winter coat, made up of several layers including a layer of hollow hairs. This helps with insulation and also helps with buoyancy when swimming. They shed their thick coats in June, after which they have a dark brown summer coat.
Baby reindeer are born in the early spring, and weigh 8 to 14 lbs at birth. Twins are rare for reindeer. The babies also start growing their first set of antlers just a few weeks after being born.
Farmed reindeer eat a diet of hay and a feed mix similar to a horse feed. They also like to graze on a grass and clover pasture.
Most reindeer in the USA are descendants of reindeer that were imported into Alaska during the gold rush at the end of the 1800’s.
Today reindeer are raised on farms throughout the U.S., from Florida to New York to Alaska. Our reindeer came from reindeer farms in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and South Dakota.
Both male and female reindeer grow antlers. They grow a new set every year. Ours will drop their antlers in March and immediately start growing a new set. Growing antlers are soft and covered in short hairs, called velvet. In September the antlers turn hard and the reindeer rub the velvet off.
The reindeer have a thick winter coat, made up of several layers including a layer of hollow hairs. This helps with insulation and also helps with buoyancy when swimming. They shed their thick coats in June, after which they have a dark brown summer coat.
Baby reindeer are born in the early spring, and weigh 8 to 14 lbs at birth. Twins are rare for reindeer. The babies also start growing their first set of antlers just a few weeks after being born.
Farmed reindeer eat a diet of hay and a feed mix similar to a horse feed. They also like to graze on a grass and clover pasture.